Ian Rush: Brendan Rodgers must be judged on the trophies he delivers

Ian Rush believes Liverpool are going in the right direction ahead of what he thinks will be a crucial next season

Former Liverpool striker Ian Rush believes manager Brendan Rodgers will ultimately have to be judged on the trophies he wins at Anfield.

The Reds' record goalscorer insists the club's high standards of the past must be met - something Rodgers is well aware of himself - and a positive first season in charge for the Northern Irishman is a step in the right direction.

"Liverpool have high standards. That is what you must be judged by," Rush, who two European Cups, five league titles, three FA Cups and five league cups at Anfield, told Press Association Sport.

"Those standards were set by Bill Shankly in the 1970s and Bob Paisley took them on.

"It is a difficult level to attain but those are the standards.

"Why shouldn't that be the judgement? No one is saying he has to get there straight away, that he immediately must start winning the Premier League or the Champions League.

"But that has to be the aim. The key is to maintain improvement. If you can do that every year eventually you will get there."

An inconsistent season has left Liverpool in seventh place, five points behind Everton heading into Sunday's Merseyside derby at Anfield.

While they demolished Newcastle 6-0 last weekend, having also beaten Swansea and Norwich 5-0 this season, they have also lost at home to strugglers Aston Villa and West Brom and were knocked out of the FA Cup by League One Oldham.

"I do believe they are going the right way towards doing that and they are playing good football," added Rush, speaking at the launch of the McDonald's '10 Years of Teamwork' grassroots football report which reviewed what has been achieved at grassroots level in Wales in the last decade.

"Liverpool have done well and played some excellent football.

"They need to stick with Brendan Rodgers because we can see light at the end of the tunnel.

"We have tripped ourselves up a couple of times just when you think the corner has been turned.

"We expected to beat West Brom and Aston Villa at Anfield but it didn't happen.

"However, the football has been good and next year is going to be a big one.

"The players will all have an additional year's experience and if they can sign a couple more I believe the improvement will continue."